Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 23: In a significant step towards streamlining tax compliance, the Income Tax Department has unveiled its latest digital initiative — the ‘e-Pay Tax’ feature — allowing taxpayers to pay income tax without logging into the e-filing portal.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), in a statement released on Tuesday, described the tool as a major upgrade aimed at enhancing user convenience and promoting digital governance.

“Gone are the days of standing in bank queues or battling last-minute tax payment stress. The new 'e-Pay Tax' feature is a seamless, secure, and time-saving solution to meet tax obligations,” said the CBDT.

Key highlights of the feature:

• No login required: Taxpayers can now pay taxes without a username or password.

• Simple process: Visit the official e-filing portal, select ‘e-Pay Tax’, enter PAN and mobile number, verify with OTP.

• Multiple tax types supported: Users can select from income tax, advance tax, and other categories, and proceed with payment after entering relevant details.

• Instant confirmation: Upon successful payment, taxpayers receive immediate confirmation via SMS and email, along with a downloadable challan receipt.

CBDT emphasized that the feature not only improves user experience but also encourages timely tax compliance, particularly benefiting individual taxpayers and small businesses by removing procedural hurdles.

“This is not just a technology upgrade—it’s a shift in the way the government connects with citizens, marking a move toward efficient and people-centric governance,” the tax body noted.

Income tax in India is governed by the Income Tax Act, 1961, and is levied on income earned during the ‘previous year’ (April 1 to March 31), which is assessed in the following ‘assessment year’.

With the introduction of 'e-Pay Tax', the department hopes to set a new standard in public service delivery through simplicity, speed, and accessibility.